“What do we do know, boss?” Watcher was the first one to break the silence between the three of them.
“Order a black suitcase, have it here in half an hour. Go to the vault and fill it with 250.000 bits and then come back to me. We are going to make him an offer that he can't refuse.”
“You are going to give him your money? Without -“
Seven, who has just stared blankly into the reception until yet, turned to his Secretary.
“I am going to bribe him into leaving,” he interrupted.
“And you expect that he just leaves? After he took out several casinos and just walked out of their front door with as many bits as he could carry?” Derrick frowned in disbelief.
“No, I am going to call upon his better nature. If he plays tonight, we can shut down this place and we all live on the streets and even-”
“Better nature?” Derrick shouted out. “You are going to leave our fate to his better nature? Are you crazy?”
Seven gave him the looks.
“There is no other chance, you know that nothing ever could hurt him. And after all, he is just a stallion, maybe he will understand our misery.” With these words Seven left the open-muzzled Derrick and went back to the elevator to spend some time distracting him in his office.
Rick on the other hand thought some bad words about Seven.
After several moments he shook his head two or three times and walked behind the counter of the reception to his office to make a call for a suitcase.
Three quarters of an hour later, Mr. Smith and his assistant Rick were standing behind a dark brown, earth-pony stallion with short, white mane, who was sitting at a slot machine. Over his flank he wore an old, light brown poncho with a corn print so nopony could see his cutie mark.
“This is the third machine I emptied of bits,” he said without turning around.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam,” Seven began, “I am Seven Smith, owner and founder of the Golden Hooves and this is my assistant, secretary and head of security Mr. Watcher.”
Seven pointed a hoof at his friend.
“Would you mind to follow me where we can speak freely? Rick, can we use your office?”
Rick nodded.
“Sure Mr. Smith, I can follow you everywhere. And please, call me Lucky.” The brown stallion grinned, now looking into Sevens eyes.
After he put his bits into his saddlebags, the three of them walked to the reception, behind the counter and into Derricks office, where he pulled a black suitcase out of his safe and carefully laid it on his desk.
“When this is going to be a real bribe, why not order a black suitcase,” Rick thought as he had ordered the case.
“Hard times, ain't it?” Seven sat down behind the desk, his assistant standing at his side. Lucas strolled around the room and inspected the decoration.
“I am offering you 250.000 bits, if you leave my casino in the next half an hour.”
Fitzwilliam turned his head to the stallion in the big revolving chair. Smith had put his hooves together and rested his muzzle on it.
“250.000?”
Fitzwilliams voice trembled with disbelief.
“250.000.” Seven repeated slowly.
“250.000 for not playing today and risking to loose everything I have? Hell, I'm in.”
The two stallions behind the desk were surprised, one more than other, but in neither of their faces you could read that.
With a silent click, the suitcase opened and Lucas calculated roughly the bits in the black leather box.
“Thank you, Mr. Smith.” He closed the suitcase, put it in his saddlebags and turned to leave the room. Before he reached the door, he stopped.
“Am I allowed to watch the show?”
“Of course you are. And your room is on the house.”
Lucas bowed and smiled at Seven as he left the room.
“Thank you, Mr. Smith.”When the door clicked as it closed, they both let their breath they were holding. Completely stunned they stared at each other.
“This...was it?” Rick asked in disbelief.
“This sure was easy.”
“I wonder if he is hiding something or just... plain stupid.”
“He could have walked out that door with everything we had but instead he chose to go with the case full of bits... I wonder what's going on in his head.”
“I guess we'll never know.”
They both stared for a little while at the door where he just left until they had processed what just happened – each on his own way.
“I want every step of him watched until he leaves the city,” Seven said as he stood up from his chair and walked out of Watchers office.
“Yes, Sir.” Derrick remained in awe until he heard the door click a second time, then he made some calls.
Meanwhile Seven headed to the theatre.
“This has to be celebrated,” he thought as he approached an excited mob. His voice cut sharp through all the ponys whispering.
“What is going on here?”
The crowd split and made a passage for an angry looking, beautiful dressed mare.
“Seven, I am leaving you to be an actor in Haywood.”
“Wait, what?”
It hit him like a brick in his face. He stared at the large, double swing door where she just passed through. The white unicorn with the light red, curly mane and a voluptuous muzzle had her trolley case behind her pulled by a shy and insecure looking colt in a red Golden-Hooves-uniform.
Seven shook his head to shake off the amazement.
“But darling!” He pulled out his softest and smoothest voice as he trotted after her.
“Finally, I am able to leave this hellhole.” She turned away her head and held her muzzle high.
“But baby!” Seven began again.
Betty stopped and turned to her ex-coltfriend.
“I have met somepony who actually cares for me and will not be together with me because it's convenient.” She spun around and continued her way to the exit.
“But sweetie-pie!”
Seven outpaced her and put himself in her way.
“I thought you are my shmoopy-doopy sweetie-weety pony pie,” he said as he bowed to her.
“I... No. No, you had your chance!”
“Can't we at least talk about it? There is no need to rush decisions.” His eyes were begging.
“Besides, you don't want to go without a great farewell-party, do you?” Seven added.
“I,” Betty began but sighed instead of finishing her thought.
“Think of all the fans of yours and how disappointed they will be when you don't give them the honor of your last show. And I bet you hadn't the time to take your diamond collar from my safe too, did you?” He paused. “Please come with me upstairs where we can talk this through – You know I support you in every way I can.”
“Yes, you are right.” She paused. “But I will finish my show first, my fans need me. After that I am going to explain my decision to you and, if you don't mind, take my diamond collar with me.”
“Of course I don't mind.” Seven smiled weakly.
“But don't think that you can change my mind. I am going with John to Haywood.”
“With whom?”
“John Colto of course, the famous director, my dear. Now if you excuse me, I will be late for the show.” With these words she turned around and went back to her dressing room, the bellhop stumbling after her.